Young piano talent Luka Okros claims Scottish International Piano Competition prize

London-based Georgian pianist Luka Okros has claimed his most recent international award as the artist was revealed among the prize-winners of the Scottish International Piano Competition in Glasgow last weekend.

Winner of the Hannover Chopin Piano Competition earlier this year, the young pianist received the Third Prize at the Glasgow event on Sunday.

Also known as the Douglas McKerrell Memorial Prize, the award signified Okros’ selection among artists distinguished at the 11th edition of the competition.

Okros (front row, fourth from left) photographed with young pianists taking part in the competition. Photo: Scottish International Piano Competition.

Held from September 1-10, it involved over 20 pianists from 15 countries in a preliminary round before a shortlist of 10 competitors was drawn.

The following semifinal round saw the selected participants showcase their talents before three were selected for the final round.

Performing with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra led by Danish conductor Thomas Sondergard, they were judged by a jury team chaired by Aaron Shorr, Head of Keyboard at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Established in 1986, the Scottish International Piano Competition is held every three years.

It involves young performers from around the world in rounds of competition before they take part in chamber and concerto performances in the final stage.

The London-based pianist has received international accolade for his live performances and recordings. Photo: Luka Okros artist Facebook page.

The Third Prize of the competition marks the latest international award for Okros, who graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 2013 before enrolling at the Royal College of Music.

Among the other honours he has received is the top prize of the 2015 Valencia International Piano Competition as well as the First Prize of the 2016 Hong Kong International Piano Competition.

Okros made his debut at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York at the age of 18, while his 2016 recording of works by Robert Schumann was praised by French magazine Classica as a "magnificent record of a pianist you have to take account of in the future”.

The young Georgian artist is also involved in a busy touring calendar, preparing for an Asian tour launching in October and featuring performances and masterclasses in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and India.

Set to play at the Neamt Piano Festival in Romania and the Harbin International Piano Competition in China this year, Okros is also scheduled to launch a tour of Europe in early 2018.